2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

Thrifty_Sister

Morning all - just a quick catch up as I've been in hospital for a few days and am desperate to get back to 'normal' IYSWIIM. Its quite traumatice even when you know something like this is coming - had op now though and just want to get better which I know you lovely people on here will help me with no end.

For obvious reasons had a few nsd and feeling quite virtous as on target to pay an extra £50 off cc's this month. Also car needs repair but I will also have the cash now instead of bunging it on my cc. I sooo want to have paid it off by the end of year.

Hope everybody is well - hugs to those who are struggling x

Winchelsea

efc said:

SS I will be round for a cuppa soon and Winchelsea thanks for the promise of a hug will come round for that after the cuppa at SS. unless you want a cuppa also then how about joining me at SS's I'm sure she will be pleased to see you also she seems to be a lovely person. X "

Loved this efc!! Tell SS to get the Kettle on!

The sun's shining, my house is sparkling, and have just had two phone calls - from DD2 and then from DS, so am feeling very happy! Oh, and just had an email to say my App food order is being dispatched - always exciting, especially when you can't remember what you ordered!

Re the house - I do have a cleaner (health problems mean I struggle with hoovering etc, and all the frugality means I can pay someone else to do it!). She's been away for several weeks, and I've been getting by on my own, but oh what a difference now she's been!

Niow must go and sort out lunch, as I'm going to my knitting group this afternoon (wearing my just completed new socks!)

Knit socks, save the planet! (Toasty feet = less heating needed!)

enjoyfinancialchallenges

Now the tables are turned I'm the one in tears now . What an incredibible lot you all are, I'm feeling a lot of guilt now that I burdened you with my pain and how I cope with it, but its the wonderful messages of support and love I'm feeling at this moment, Wow that's incredible and yes I'm feeling all sort of fluffy round the edges as I write. Thank you all and esp SS and Winchelsea ......"and anybody else who knows me" of course. How about a group hug then?

Just finished another 6 lbs of Marmalade and will now get lunch and start cutting up more oranges to cook tonight. I seem to be cutting one day and cooking the next these days, I enjoy watching Deal or no deal as I work.......or should that be Peel or no peel? Sorry, just thought it was funny but honestly I know it is'nt.

Perhaps I shall go into the garden for 30mins and make a bit of room in the veg patch, my friend gave me some cabbage plants about 2 months ago and they are still in small pots and I dont want her to visit me and find that out so I must get busy as soon as I have eaten.

mumwithamission

rubytuesday wrote: »

Hello everyone.

my presentation today which went brilliantly ' The Impact on Children When a Parent has a Mental illness'

would have liked to go to that

mytimetoshine2012

Mines a cuppa please - milk no sugar!! :rotfl:Anyone want one of my HM cookies as they are vrtual they are calorie free trble chocolate with extra chocolate chips :T ...Oh I wish!!

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone, it was much appreciated and I feel bad for not being back on here since:o. I hope you undertand it has been a bad week for me. I have been struggling a bit with deprerssion. Compared to last year when I was really poorly with it (not that I realised at the time) things are much better but when I get overwhelmed it seems to creep in on me.

I started off well today but have spent the majority of it procrsastinating and feeling sorry for myself and looking at my list in despair.:mad:. I am hoping that tomorrow will be better as I have lots of coursework to do and the deadline is fast approaching. I also have a paid work deadline which is looming .......

Anyway enough of that I am DETERMINED to get back on track again and loved reading all of your posts. My great grandma was one of 6 and when her Mum died her Dad remarried to someone who had 12 :eek::eek:. They also lived in a terrace with a shared toilet and tap. It is quite inspiring to think how they coped. My great grandma had to work so as she and her husband could make ends meet and feed them and my grandma and two siblings. She took in laundry as well as working in the day. Nan said that she sometimes used to find toys or small coins in the pockets and give them to the kids.:).

My Mum was a midwife in the 70's and she used to get called out at all hours..Nan went to fetch her once and couldn't understand where she could have got to an hour after the scheduled time. Mum likewise was waiting outside in the cold & dark one Novemeber worrying that my Nan had been in a accident. It wasn't until an hour later that grandad who had been dozing in the passenger seat woke and asked why they were outside a field. Nan didn't like wearing her glasses :rotfl::rotfl:...needless to say Mum dorver herself after that!

I coped Kerfuffles post because this is how I feel and the list is useful to me in order to get started!

Kerfuffle wrote: »

Hi beanrua,

Welcome to the challenge. Co-incidently this afternoon I've been working on my list as I don't think I've had a tight enough hold on the reins as I should have, and so in an attempt to re-inspire myself and to ensure I don't fall off the wagon I've reworked my original list and have included some of the other Frugalistas' ideas. You're welcome to pinch any ideas that may be useful to you, I must stress though that this list is relevant to myself and so doesn't include things aren't feasible for me, because of where I live such as whoopsies, LETS etc.

Money

Set a proper budget for everything and account for every penny.
Spend within your means.
Make shopping lists.
Pay in cash.
Keep a spending diary.
Put any 'spare' change, roadkill (cash found on the street) in the sealed pot.
No impulse purchases, make a wish list instead.
Allocate $2.00 per person per day for food.
Paying down debt/savings with any spare money.

Groceries

Stockpile & bulk buy.
Make use of money-off coupons.
Price check comparing price per grammes and milli-litres

In the kitchen

Don’t waste food.
Batch cooking and cooking from scratch.
Rubber chicken.
Eating soup and a pudding at least once a week
Baking all homemade cookies/biscuits/cakes.
Preserving, lemon curd.
Make homemade yoghurt.
Bulk out stews and casseroles with extra pulses, vegetables or grains.

In the home

Make do and mend.
Card & gift making.
Use cotton hankerchiefs/cotton napkins/reusable cloths instead of disposable.
Monitoring my electric use and turning off things.
Learn more about foraging for the area where I live.
Re-gift anything I’m given that I don’t want.
DIY pedicures and manicures.
Make my own laundry cleaner/gloop
Totally restrict toiletries to the basics. No shower gels, just soap, then progress to homemade.
Learn a new skill (crocheting/butter making/soap making).
Use sewing machine more and make own dresses (already have the materials).
Re-use envelopes.

In the garden

Grow own herbs, fruit & vegetables
Compost everything that is compostable.

Out and about

Restrict journeys thereby incorporating more chores in one journey, then park and walk.
Make the most of charity shops
Always take a book/magazine when out and about.
Stop buying books + magazines (even charity shop ones) - use library more.
Take a flask and some homemade goodies when out and about so not tempted to go into coffee/tea shops.
Take a packed lunch when out for the day.

Declutter

I don't think I'll be buying any new clothes this year as I'm trying to whittle down the amount of stuff I already have.
Sell or swap books that I’ve read.
Ebay/Ebid

This is a great help to me. I need to retstart my baby steps and get my face out of the chocloate cupboard before I start putting weight back on again:o.

You are all really inspirational people on here I am hoping to absorb some inner strength over my wi-fi connection!

Thanks for the tea, I'll pop in agian soon and maybe bring a carrot cake this time...:coffee:

Take care everyone
MTTS

seriouslyfrugal

rubytuesday wrote: »

Hello everyone.

Good news from me - a spend in the cafe on coffee and cake with my friend after my presentation today which went brilliantly ' The Impact on Children When a Parent has a Mental illness' and even more good news my girlie got her 5th and final University offer today at Edinburgh - BBB! She still wants to go to Leeds though. So proud of her - she's in demand!

ruby i'm glad your presentation was successful & that your daughter has had success with her uni offers must be such a relief for her

Winchelsea wrote: »

efc said:

SS I will be round for a cuppa soon and Winchelsea thanks for the promise of a hug will come round for that after the cuppa at SS. unless you want a cuppa also then how about joining me at SS's I'm sure she will be pleased to see you also she seems to be a lovely person. X "

Loved this efc!! Tell SS to get the Kettle on! i'm up for that cuppa :coffee: and a natter and and of course that all important :grouphug:

Knit socks, save the planet! (Toasty feet = less heating needed!)

its been quite mild here in hampshire so no heating need apart from a couple of hours in the evening - more money saving


I managed my swim today 30 lengths in 43mins which as I haven't been for a bit i'm really happy over

Blood test tomorrow - not my favorite of things but the dr does like sticking needles in to me I reckon :rotfl:

I hope everyone is ok have a good wednesday everyone

seriouslyfrugal

mytimetoshine2012 wrote: »

Mines a cuppa please - milk no sugar!! :rotfl:Anyone want one of my HM cookies as they are vrtual they are calorie free trble chocolate with extra chocolate chips :T ...Oh I wish!!

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone, it was much appreciated and I feel bad for not being back on here since:o. I hope you undertand it has been a bad week for me. I have been struggling a bit with deprerssion. Compared to last year when I was really poorly with it (not that I realised at the time) things are much better but when I get overwhelmed it seems to creep in on me.

I started off well today but have spent the majority of it procrsastinating and feeling sorry for myself

Thanks for the tea, I'll pop in agian soon and maybe bring a carrot cake this time...:coffee:

Take care everyone
MTTS

Several on here including me have depression so I fully understand your comments i've had a rough time lately I really find my swimming helpful for this - but even a walk sometimes does the trick i'm taking one day at a time and trying to get structre into my day without getting overwhelmed

the cookies and cake sound good - no calories :rotfl: :rotfl:

purpleorchid

i seem to be struggling big time with my illnesses at the moment, this is the 3rd week that i have not been able to have my daughter over night as im not well enough to cope, even though she is a little angel most of the time. i have no motivation and am still spending most of my time in bed.
is nice to read everyones posts on here as it does keep my spirit up a little. do wish i could afford a house cleaner as this does seem to get me down when the house needs cleaning and i have no energy.
will keep reading.

Luv P
xx

Winchelsea

Hugs and warm thoughts for all those feeling a bit down. I do understand as I have been there, especially in the couple of years when coping with DH's increasingly aggressive dementia without support. My salvation was to open up and share with people - then I got amazing help and support.

Remember, we're all here to care for each other.

rubytuesday

Seriouslyfrugal I'm feeling jealous of your swim - I haven't felt well enough to go for two months now and I'm really missing it.

Initially walking helped my mood so much but the swimming helps me even more.

I'm getting a bit worried as Marmalade has been on the missing list all day but no doubt she will walz into the kitchen in the morning!